Akl Ipo ?

[Kata]

I know that alot of people sing the praises of AKL IPO but I sent them an email over 48 hours ago with a couple of questions and I have yet to receive a response. I am nearing my 180 day mark and need them to answer my questions before I can make my plans. I was prepared to let them make my ADR'S for me but now I am afraid to let them do it because I can't even count on them to answer my email in a timely manner. Has anyone else had this problem? I did send them one email a couple of
weeks ago introducing myself and asked a few questions ,they did respond the next day and sent me some information but they never did answer all my questions. I am also curious if most IPO'S contact you or if you initiate the contact. I am staying Poly,AKL,and WL CL and am just over 6 monthes out and not one IPO has contacted me. I don't have alot of knowledge about CL. My only stay was at AKL CL a couple of years ago and I only did that for the safari's I did my own planning and adr's. Am I expecting too much from CL?I appreciate any feedback you can give me.
Thanks!!!!!!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I no longer stay concierge, but I used to. I was never, ever contacted by them. Not once.

Instead of calling the IPO people with your dining stuff, why not just call the Dining people? Either way, it's a phone call...and the dining people can always be reached.

I read a lot on the boards about how people send the IPO folks emails that aren't returned and make follow-up calls that aren't returned. It just seems a lot easier to me to make one call to Disney Dining and be done with it. But that's me.

Good luck whatever route you go!

 

[Kata]

Thanks for the response. Actually my main problem is I had asked them if I could do the Wildlife Safari on checkin day and they never answered that question. The did tell me I could arrive any time after 7am but I need to make sure I can do the tour.My park days will revolve around the Wildlife safari so if I can't do it on checkin day I need to plan another day at AK. I don't really mind making my ADR's but it will take awhile to make about 12 ADR'S and if that is a service they should be providing for their rates I would like to take advantage of it.I will definetely make my own ADR'S for Le cellier because I know they go fast.

 

[Tiffany]

Thanks for the response. Actually my main problem is I had asked them if I could do the Wildlife Safari on checkin day and they never answered that question. The did tell me I could arrive any time after 7am but I need to make sure I can do the tour.My park days will revolve around the Wildlife safari so if I can't do it on checkin day I need to plan another day at AK. I don't really mind making my ADR's but it will take awhile to make about 12 ADR'S and if that is a service they should be providing for their rates I would like to take advantage of it.I will definetely make my own ADR'S for Le cellier because I know they go fast.

Hi,
This is odd for them. I sent my email and got a phone call the next morning, a Sunday morning in fact, from Don going over everything and getting my cc number to reserve the Sunrise Safari.

There is no "Wildlife" Safari but there is a Sunrise Safari that takes place in the early morning over at the AK park and then there is the Sunset Safari that takes place on the savannas at the lodge followed by dinner at Jiko. Send a follow up email or give them a call as it is out of character for them.

 

[grannyminnie]

I've kind of had the same thing happen to me, Kata. When I first made the reservation, I heard from them the next day. Then when I emailed back to ask a question, I have yet to hear from them, and that was maybe 4 days ago. It's close to 180 days out for us too, but right now, we're undecided as to ADRs, if in fact I even need any.

 

[larkles]

I had the same problem, it took about 3-4 days,but then both Sue and Jack e-mailed and called on the same day

They did tell me it was easier to reach them by phone on the weekends. I can't imagine how busy they must be with so many guests arriving daily and needing tickets, dining and reservations for various shows.

 

[grannyminnie]

Does anyone use IPO for lunch ressies, or just the "hard to get" character breakfasts and dinners?

 

[Kata]

Hi,
This is odd for them. I sent my email and got a phone call the next morning, a Sunday morning in fact, from Don going over everything and getting my cc number to reserve the Sunrise Safari.

There is no "Wildlife" Safari but there is a Sunrise Safari that takes place in the early morning over at the AK park and then there is the Sunset Safari that takes place on the savannas at the lodge followed by dinner at Jiko. Send a follow up email or give them a call as it is out of character for them.

Thanks you for all the great responses!!!!I 'm sorry in my rush to send out my post before work I said Wildlife safari instead of Wildlife Discovery tour which is available to any resort CL guest. I resent them the email today saying I was still waiting on answers to my questions and hopefully I will hear back from them soon. I really feel for the rates they charge for CL that it isn't asking too much for the IPO staff to respond within 3 days.I really don't think this is a peak season and they should be able to respond to my email in an timely manner.If I don't hear from them soon I will definetely call them and express my disappointment in the service I have received. Thanks again!!!

 

[space ranger 1]

Thanks for the response. Actually my main problem is I had asked them if I could do the Wildlife Safari on checkin day and they never answered that question. The did tell me I could arrive any time after 7am but I need to make sure I can do the tour.My park days will revolve around the Wildlife safari so if I can't do it on checkin day I need to plan another day at AK. I don't really mind making my ADR's but it will take awhile to make about 12 ADR'S and if that is a service they should be providing for their rates I would like to take advantage of it.I will definetely make my own ADR'S for Le cellier because I know they go fast.

Well I am no expert since I have only been to the world once 20 some years ago. But when my 180 day mark came up, I got up, called in, had a plan of what I wanted and in less than 10 minutes I was done with 8 reservations. The CM I spoke with said she was so glad that I knew what I wanted and was able to go through it quickly. Apparently they have a lot of people calling in asking for advice and have not even thought which restaurant or which park they may be in at any particular time.

So I am betting that you have enough planned that you could call and get them done in just 10 or 15 minutes. Either way good luck!

 

[grannyminnie]

I haven't heard of the Wildlife Discovery Tour. Is that there at the Lodge or do you go to AK for that also?
Can someone who has been tell me about that one?

 

[SharonLowe]

I haven't heard of the Wildlife Discovery Tour. Is that there at the Lodge or do you go to AK for that also?
Can someone who has been tell me about that one?

It is at AK during the day. You go out into the area where the animals are. I've not done it; I am sure others have. When I asked the CL staff about it, they said the Sunrise Safari was better.

 

[John's Mom]

I had the same problem, it took about 3-4 days,but then both Sue and Jack e-mailed and called on the same day

They did tell me it was easier to reach them by phone on the weekends. I can't imagine how busy they must be with so many guests arriving daily and needing tickets, dining and reservations for various shows.

The IPO staff is not the same staff that is located in the lounge. Once you arrive at the Lodge, the lounge staff helps you with any reservations you need.

 

[Tiffany]

Does anyone use IPO for lunch ressies, or just the "hard to get" character breakfasts and dinners?

I sent them an email with a list of what we wanted for all of our ADRs regardless of meal type or popularity, if it was something that I would have to make the phone call on I put it in the email, as well as booking the Sunrise Safari that is only open to the guests of the AKL Concierge.

 

[Tiffany]

The IPO staff is not the same staff that is located in the lounge. Once you arrive at the Lodge, the lounge staff helps you with any reservations you need.

I did now this, I thought they were the same as when we stayed there back in 2003 and 2004 there was a Don that worked in the lounge at the AKL that was also great and I just assumed he was the same Don from the IPO.

Does anyone know for 100% sure if the Don that works in the lounge at the AKL is the same as the Don that will reply to emails to the IPO for the AKL?

 

[Kata]

Well Don from AKL IPO finally sent me an email after 5 days apologizing for the slow response because they were so busy. He did tell me that they could make all my ADR'S for me since they were my 1st resort or I could contact the other resorts IPO ,that it was up to me that I was the "Boss". I am no longer sure I want to trust them to make all my ADR'S,if it took them 5 days to respond to my email because they were busy how can I trust them to be on the phone at my 180 day mark getting my ADR'S. I definetely don't trust them to get me Le Cellier but I am still not sure about all the other ADR'S. Sometimes you need to do it yourself to make sure its done right(and promptly) however I am paying for the service. I wish I could count on it getting done in a timely manner.
Thanks!!!!

 

[johnsonet]

I have stayed at AKL at least 15 times and about half of those stays have been CL.I've also stayed at most of the Deluxe Disney resorts, sometimes CL. I give you this info to preface what I'm about to say: Don at AKL CL is the best CM I have ever dealt with. And I know for a fact I'm not the only guest who feels this way. He is a kind man and has an EXCELLENT attitude, which I appreciate particularly b/c it is an increasingly rare quality. I would recommend that you accept his apology and trust him with your plans. He is very good at what he does.
Yes, you are paying for Concierge service and that does include some advanced itinerary planning but you should be reasonable. If a dining reservation is going to make or break your vacation, I would certainly recommend doing it yourself. When my daughter was younger I was on the phone at the crack of dawn calling for Cindy's It wasn't as earth-shattering to anyone as it was to me so I made sure I made it happen. Don will be very diligent in getting you your ADRs I am sure, as well as helping you plan your dream vacation. I hope you will give AKL CL IPO another chance.

 

[#1hockeymom]

I totally concur with johnsonset's post. Don is one of the very best! I have always trusted IPO with my adr's and although I never have very many, I also have never had a problem getting in at short notice. AKL's IPO and their staff in the lounge have always worked miracles for my family and I.

Debbie

 

[Kata]

Thanks for the great responses. I know I have heard about Don and Juanita for a long time,that is why I was so suprised for it to take 5 days for an email response. I will trust them with all ADR's but Le Cellier.
Thanks again!!!!